Manila, Philippines, Sep 17 – A Norwegian held hostage by a notorious kidnapping-for-ransom gang in the strife-torn southern Philippines was released Saturday after a year in captivity and will soon be handed over to authorities, officials said.

Kjartan Sekkingstad was abducted by Abu Sayyaf from a high-end tourist resort in September 2015, alongside a Filipina woman, who has already been freed, and two Canadian men who were later beheaded by the Islamic militant group.

Sekkingstad was released by Abu Sayyaf Saturday and handed to another Muslim rebel group in Sulu, a remote archipelago known as a militant hideout, Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte’s peace advisor told AFP.

“He is now released by captors and (is) staying overnight with Nur Misuari’s camp… due to heavy rain,” Jesus Dureza said, referring to the founder of the Muslim rebel group Moro National Liberation Front.

The MNLF are currently in peace talks with the government and have been working with authorities to secure Sekkingstad’s release.

“He is well,” Dureza said, adding that Sekkingstad would be handed over to authorities on Sunday and then flown to the southern city of Davao.